2014 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Long-Term Update 1

First Service Visit, and an Interior Niggle

By Julia LaPalme, Photography by Motor Trend Staff

Truck Trend, July 31, 2014

So far, our long-term 2014 Subaru Forester 2.0XT is holding up nicely to our use and abuse. The test team took it to the track and brought back some respectable numbers. Road test editor Scott Mortara got a 0-60 mph time of 6.4 seconds at the track (we've reproduced the test chart below). And the Forester's 4-wheel disc brakes stop the vehicle from 60 to 0 mph in 115 feet.

Within the last 12,000 miles, we've also had a scheduled maintenance visit. It turns out that our Forester came equipped with a 2/23 maintenance plan (aka Plan 445), which retails for $347. Plan 445 covers the first three maintenance visits and comes with a $500 coupon toward the lease or purchase of another Subaru. So the oil change, tire rotation, and fluid top-off service we received at 7,500 miles, which normally runs about $85, cost us nothing. Now, compare the cost of three visits (including the 15,000-mile cabin filter replacement plus oil change, and the 22,500-mile oil change) to the cost of the maintenance plan, and it looks like the maintenance plan is worth it only if you plan to purchase another Subaru and want the $500 coupon.

Since we ordered our Subaru Forester 2.0XT with the baseline package, I've been adjusting to having a vehicle without GPS. The multi-function display, which displays the backup camera view and average mpg readout (among other things), is tucked away in a shaded cubby just the right size to wedge my iPhone in to provide hands-free GPS. The downside is the iPhone blocks my view of the reverse camera, and its power cord hangs in front of the radio.

Otherwise, the driving experience in the Forester 2.0XT is going well. I took it on a camping trip up to Little Basin in California, and filled the back of the Subie with three days' worth of camping gear for two adults, plus a cooler full of extra food for a big get-together afterward. In an effort to be respectful of our campground neighbors, I found the instructions in the manual to silence the audible signal when the Forester is locked remotely using the key fob. This way we could lock and unlock the vehicle in our very quiet campground and not disturb the peace.